"Beethoven's Hair"

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Transcript of "Beethoven's Hair"

"Beethoven's Hair"Listen to the Masters:Writing, Writing, WritingDoes writing just apply to English, Reading, LA, or Humanities? No!!The Simplest Rules Ever...for Writing Across the CurriculumThe Model:Beethoven's HairWhat just happened?Talk about the process!(Talk about your thinking!)ORWriting Across Curriculum in the "Wild"Penny Kittle says...."As Don Graves wrote so many years ago: 'Children want to write.'

...Don shaped our sense of possibility in teaching writing. I learned to listen to writers because of Don....

...I've become the teacher I am because of Don Graves. I learned to teach into the interests and intentions of students. I began a habit of writing at first light. I learned a way of being in the world that has altered everything in my teaching. I am also one of many teachers who began to write because Don said, 'You have a story to tell.' Let this [issue of Heinemann PD Services] be an invitation to you. Write your life. Then share."From the Fall 2013 Catalog-Journal of Heinemann Professional Development, p. 3Who is your continuing teacher?To whom do you hope you measure up?Who has altered everything you know about teaching?Joye Davis, Anna Morini, and the Morini "Method"What does "writing across the curriculum" mean to you?Dan Cole of Hofstra UniversityCrux of This Popular Hot Button:"... we have been brought up to think that writing is a mode of LEARNING...."

BUT

"...[when] we think out loud... that's what writing does. Writing helps us to clarify our thinking process." Jane Hansen, NCTE's Language Arts Journal, p. 426So why is talking about writing so hot lately?Why is writing across the curriculum so important now? What have you been told, heard, learned, or decided?STAAR Says....They want a broader picture of student writersStudents should move seemlessly between genres of writing and readingThey are looking at the "internalized skills" and experience as writersFormulaic is dangerousPerformance measured by: critical thinking, application of knowledge and skills, likelihood of next-grade success, and how much/what kind of intervention is neededVictoria Says....Good writing begins with GOOD THINKINGQuality worth more than quantityVary lengths and purposes of writingTeach them how to "grapple with roadblocks" in the writing processFormulaic shortcuts deeper thinkingCreate a safe environment for writingIncreased craft = increased performanceGood writers = good readersSCAFFOLD, SCAFFOLD, SCAFFOLDREAD, THINK, WRITEFrom presentation by Victoria YoungDir. of Reading, Writing, and Social Studies @ TEA - Jan. 2012It belongs everywhere!# 1Identify and practice "good genre"Learn a handful of useful and related genres.Be open-minded.Share what you enjoy.Suggestions?#2Kill 2 standard birds with one stone.What does ELA need from you, if you are NOT ELA?(and never wanted to be)We need help with....1. Inferencing2. Reading graphs, charts, media3. Distinguishing between genres4. Greek/Latin roots5. Vocabulary, vocabulary, vocabularyETC.!#3Expose them to relevant but interesting mentor texts....Emphasis on the INTERESTING....brief excerptsany genreFrom Chapter 10 of "I Am Legend" by Richard Matheson

What kinds of work could you do with this if you were a science teacher?

#4Thou shalt use a modified rubric.It will be ok.Take what you can get.Don't worry as much about erorrs.Follow your ELA teacher's lead.Use Edutopia or 6 Traits if all else fails.#5Brush Beethoven's Hair.(Find a way to make it weird, fun, different, or tangible.)Why do we love music so much?What do you know about Ludwig Von Beethoven?What part does biology play in "greatness"?"Moonlight Sonata" (Piano Sonata No. 14 - 1801)"Immortal Beloved" directed by Bernard Rose, 1994"Superman IV" directed by Sidney Furie, 1987So now we have a little background knowledge on Beethoven.We also have a little knowledge about hair.Know v. Need to Know. Right?What aspects of biology does this introduce?What vocabulary is needed to talk about hair?Use an interesting mentor text to push inquiry, desire to learn, and something they can write about.Biology of HairBiology of Hair Follicle - NIHForensics on HairWe are now full of questions!Inquiry! Innovation! Passion!Why study hair, like Beethoven's?What are people hoping to find?What does that follicle really say about us?TASK:You are a journalist present at the unveiling of your favorite old musician's hair, intended for study of his or her genius. Write a diary entry on what the atmosphere is like in the room. You MUST mention specific vocabulary from the lesson and the significance of DNA connected to your musician and his or her greatness.How else can we use other subjects/disciplines?How can we connect it to current events?Think. Pair. Share.Reflect.Discuss. Nancy Atwell teaches that writing workshop in EVERY class actually teaches people "how to write."Think about who you were. Think about who you are.Think about what you are capable of still.Every discipline has a story to tell, just like every hair contains your genetic makeup and a bit of your own story.Writing workshop works.humanityversatilitypowerblessingAccept loss forever. Work from the pithy middle out, swimming in language sea.Be submissive to everything, open, listening.No fear or shame in the dignity of your experience, language, and knowledge.Be in love with your life.You are a Genius all the time.Jack Kerouac's "Belief and Technique for Modern Prose"Believe me, you, too, can find your place inside the huge terrain of writing. No one is so odd as to be left out.Natalie Goldberg, "Writing Down the Bones"Molly AdamsWaxahachie ISD Waxahachie Global High S-STEM/ECHSDual Credit Eng 3/4, Eng 2Robotics - FRC Team # 2805fridayswithfrogs@gmail.comFollow me on Twitter @finchgirl10!Teacher Consultant for North Star of Texas Writing Project - @NorthStarTXCurrent Vice President of TCTELA, Membership and Affiliates